This week, the Journal of the American Medical Association published the conclusions of an American Heart Association study on coffee. The study not only supported coffee as being healthy but also broke down the benefits of coffee as a beverage and the caffeine effects being separate from those of coffee. There are several nuances of the study, which I will list as follows:

  1. “Moderate caffeine consumption, up to 400 milligrams per day, or the equivalent of three to five 8-ounce cups of coffee, is safe for most adults and is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation, as well as hypertension and type 2 diabetes.” That, in my humble opinion, makes for an amazing drug.
  2. An earlier study showed that 2 to 3 cups of coffee were good for brain health!
  3. The caffeine, while beneficial, could be risky in those with severe hypertension or increased sensitivity to coffee.
  4. Other ingredients in coffee (polyphenols) may heighten its benefits separate from those of caffeine, as they are potent antioxidants that help neutralize chemicals in the body. Black and green tea have similar effects.
  5. Adding flavor to the coffee with sugar, syrups, and dairy products can negate the effect of coffee and cause other harmful problems.
  6. How you prepare coffee also makes a difference. Coffee prepared with a French press or simply boiled will raise low-density cholesterol. However, if you make coffee with filter paper or as instant coffee, it has no harmful effect on cholesterol.
  7. The time of day you drink coffee also makes a big difference. An earlier study of 41,000 adults showed that coffee drinkers who had their brew between 4:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon had lower death rates 10 years later.
  8. Notably, high-energy drinks, which contain large amounts of caffeine, probably harm the cardiovascular system. This is especially notable for children and teenagers, as they should avoid this large caffeine dose. In fact, Quebec, Canada, and the United Kingdom have passed laws prohibiting the sale of these drinks to minors.

In summary, enjoy your coffee, preferably black, prepare it with a filter, keep it to less than five cups per day, and drink it only in the mornings.  It may be the best part of your day.

Dr. Charlie Barnett contributes to KnoxTNToday, where he writes the weekly column DocTalk, sharing his expertise in health and wellness. He is currently in private practice, focusing on longevity and precision medicine at NovaTheros.

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